Regional Briefs: Oct. 17

A Whittier Superior Court Commissioner ruled Tuesday that there was enough evidence to try a 19-year-old gang member for the murder of a Whittier teen.

The ruling came after the preliminary hearing of Eudiel "Eddie" Lopez who is accused of fatally shooting Michael Soto, 17, in front of a liquor store in unincorporated South Whittier on March 26.

Lopez, a member of Whittier 13, was charged with murder with gang and firearm allegations. He faces 50 years to life in prison if convicted.

Deputy District Attorney Brock Lunsford said witnesses testified Lopez approached Soto and stood behind him. Another man walked up to Soto, yelled "Whittier 13" and punched the teen in the face, he said.

"Lopez pulls out a gun and shoots the victim in the head," Lunsford said.

He allegedly fired a couple more times at Soto.

Deputies found Lopez in a nearby trailer park with the assistance of helicopters and police dogs.

He will return to court Oct. 30 for an arraignment.

MONTEREY PARK

Woman arrested for giving Botox injections

A 60-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly providing Botox injections without a valid medical license, police said Tuesday.

Monterey Park police began investigating Donna Ching-Fang Kao of Monterey Park after a former client suffered "severe trauma" to her face after receiving an injection at Kao's home a few months ago, according to Lt. Carrie Mazelin in a statement.

Police said Kao is not licensed to provide any type of medical treatment, and state law requires a medical license to administer Botox injections.

Investigators served a search warrant at Kao's home Friday.

Booking records show Kao was arrested Friday and released on a $750 bail. She is scheduled for a Dec. 12 arraignment in Alhambra Superior Court.

AZUSA

Cause of man's death remains unknown

Coroner's officials are still investigating the cause of death for a 48-year-old Caucasian man found dead in a car with two beakers containing an unknown liquid.

The incident is being investigated by Azusa police as a suspicious death. Officers responding to a call about a man sleeping in a car discovered the body.

Coroners officials are not releasing the man's name since the next of kin has not yet been notified, said Lt. Fred Corral of the coroner's investigations division.

"The case has been deferred," Corral said. "Doctors have requested further testing to be done."

Testing might include toxicology, tissue or other tests, he said. Corral could not say where the man lived.

A passer-by who saw the man parked in the 500 block of Alameda Avenue called police at 10:42 a.m.

A hazardous material team from Los Angeles County Fire Department was called in to investigate any potential hazards but they determined that the chemicals did not pose a danger to those in the area.

SOUTH EL MONTE

Fire destroys garage used as residence

Fire broke out a garage being used as a residence Monday night and caused damages estimated at $150,000.

The fire in the 9800 block of Kale Street was reported to the Los Angeles County Fire Department at

6:54 p.m.

It was knocked down at 7:17 p.m. No one was reported injured.

While the exact cause of the blaze hasn't been determined, a fire official said there were indications of an electrical short, according to Lt. William Wicker of the sheriff's Temple Station.